LONDON — Just days after passengers aboard a Flydubai flight to Israel survived a terrifying midair plunge, another international passenger jet has suffered a dramatic descent from cruising altitude — this time a British Airways Boeing 777 flying from London to Chicago.

British Airways Flight BA295 was cruising at roughly 37,000 feet when it rapidly descended to about 9,000 feet over Ireland, losing approximately 28,000 feet in under 10 minutes.

Oxygen masks deployed in the cabin as the crew declared an emergency and abandoned the transatlantic flight.

The timing immediately drew attention because of the extraordinary Flydubai incident only days earlier. In both cases, passengers suddenly found themselves aboard major commercial aircraft descending tens of thousands of feet from cruising altitude.

But the circumstances were very different.

The Flydubai flight plunged dramatically during an alleged cockpit attack that authorities have described as a terrorist incident. Passengers and crew intervened before reserve pilots regained control of the aircraft and landed safely.

In the British Airways case, there is no indication of sabotage or an attempt to bring down the aircraft.

What is confirmed is that BA295 descended rapidly during an emergency after what British Airways has described as a “technical issue.”

Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft transmitting the international 7700 emergency code before losing roughly 28,000 feet of altitude. Passengers reported turbulence and oxygen masks dropping into the cabin.

The precise technical failure has not yet been publicly identified by British Airways.

Reports have pointed to a possible cabin-pressurization problem, but that has not been formally confirmed by the airline.

The aircraft turned back toward Britain rather than continuing across the Atlantic.

Because the Boeing 777 had departed Heathrow carrying fuel for the long flight to Chicago, it remained airborne for several hours before returning to London.

The aircraft ultimately landed safely at Heathrow. Passengers were able to disembark and no serious injuries were reported.

British Airways said the flight returned because of a technical issue and that its teams were working to assist affected passengers.

The two emergencies are not believed to be connected.

Still, the proximity of the incidents is striking.

Within days, passengers aboard two major international flights experienced aircraft descending tens of thousands of feet during serious midair emergencies.

In the Flydubai case, authorities say the aircraft plunged during an alleged attempt to interfere with the flight.

In the British Airways case, the aircraft rapidly descended while the crew was responding to an emergency.

Different causes. Different circumstances.

But after the Flydubai scare, another passenger jet dropping roughly 28,000 feet from cruising altitude with oxygen masks deploying in the cabin is enough to put travelers around the world on edge.

JBizNews Desk | London

© JBizNews.com All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or distribution without written permission is prohibited.